NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Thursday ordered status quo after the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) filed an urgent plea challenging a Delhi High Court order appointing a Committee of Administrators (CoA) to run its day-to-day affairs.
A Bench, led by Chief Justice of India NV Ramana, took on record IOA’s appeal that India may lose all opportunities of participating in international events if the CoA runs the sporting body.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the IOA, contended that according to the International Olympic Committee, an elected body should represent the association and if the IOA is represented by a non-elected body then it is treated as third party interference. “India stands 99 per cent chance to be suspended from any international Olympic event…,” said Mehta, adding that it is a matter of national prestige.
The top court said, “We ask parties to maintain status-quo… it is made clear that charge has not been handed over. List it before the appropriate Bench on Monday.”similar reasons
FIFA has already suspended the All India Football Federation citing similar reasons. Justice Anil R Dave, who the Delhi High Court appointed as chair of the CoA constituted to run the IOA, also heading the CoA appointed by the top court to administer AIFF (with disastrous results).
Earlier this week, the High Court had put the affairs of the IOA in under the oversight of a CoA, stating this was in line with a recent Supreme Court order was aimed at improving the ‘ecosystem’ of sports bodies and structurally reforming them.
The court also directed the Centre not to grant recognition or any facility to the IOA or any national sports federation (NSF) if they refuse to comply with the Sports Code.
“…the legal regime apropos sports administration in India has to be implemented fully and effectively.
“Compliance with the Sports Code is non-negotiable,” a division bench of Justice Najmi Waziri and Justice Manmohan stated in an order.
As per the High Court order, the CoA — comprising Justice Dave, Dr S.Y. Quraishi, former Chief Election Commissioner, and Vikas Swarup, former Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs, will carry out the day-to-day governance of IOA.
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